OK Lowband interop usage

[PJH]

How often (if any due to the previlence of OKWIN in the center of the state) are the lowband interop channels used? Are any daily or weekly checks done anywhere? They reupped the lic awhile back, but they still seem to be pretty idle in the panhandle and west end of the state..

 

[xerb1962]

It has been awhile since I heard any base stations. Probably a year or so? I do hear mobiles around Guthrie on talkaround 44.7MHz quite often.

 

[PJH]

44.7 is an OHP channel. The ones I’m curious about are these:

Interoperability (Oklahoma) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Interoperability (Oklahoma)

www.radioreference.com

 

[xerb1962]

Misunderstood...Indeed some of those used to be pretty active. The only ones still in use here are 155.760 used by Guthrie Public Works and 154.1300 used by Edmond dispatch to tone out two rural fire departments.

 

[PJH]

Same PL tones or something different? Counties for years reused the old common mutual aid freqs as dispatch channels in other states, I wouldn’t think that OK would have been much different

 

[xerb1962]

Same PL tones or something different? Counties for years reused the old common mutual aid freqs as dispatch channels in other states, I wouldn’t think that OK would have been much different

Not sure, the radios I use to monitor these don't display the PL tone.

 

[fast2okc]

These frequencies were commonly used statewide years ago for dispatch and interoperability. That was before trunked radio, the Internet, sliced bread and other such modern inventions.

154.130 MHz is still used a lot. A few small fire departments use it for dispatch, sometimes with their own PL. For example. Cleora Fire in Delaware County and Craig County Fire.
It is also used as a separate tone out frequency for smaller departments. As xerb1962 points out, Edmond Fire tones out Oak Cliff and Deer Creek on 154.130 MHz (CSQ) and the fire units use OKWIN for firefighting.
This is also the frequency that medical helicopters use to communicate with fire units on the scene. Most rural fire trucks and all command fire vehicles have this frequency.

155.760 is still used by many small towns for public works, often without a license. Some have their own PL tones, such as Guthrie, but some do not.

155.490 MHz and 155.670 MHz used to be the backbone of law enforcement communication in rural Oklahoma. I can't recall the last time I heard anything on them, but many of the licenses remain. The Oklahoma Emergency Management folks a few years ago realized these frequencies were available statewide and published guidelines for their use as interoperations channels for the state.

 

[nd5y]

In case anybody doesn't know about it...

Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security - Oklahoma Field Operations Guide (OKFOG)

This page provides information about the Oklahoma Field Operations Guide and allows users to request hard copies and recommend changes. OKLAHOMA FIELD OPERATIONS GUIDE Overview The OKFOG is a pocket-sized?communications quick-reference booklet for first responders. The OKFOG...

www.ok.gov

 

[PJH]

My larger question is the use of the lowband channels - seeing the trend is moving away from lowband but you can’t beat them for simplicity and base to base use

 

[fast2okc]

There has been a lot of frustration with the OKWIN System. In the 80's it was promised to be a statewide, full coverage system, accessible to all public safety agencies. Well, we're still waiting.

In the meantime, emergency managers and radio system admins struggled to find interoperability solutions. We've had EDACS, P-25, UHF Links, LTR Passport, Linked DMR, SSB HF and probably others I have missed.

There is a joke in Emergency Management:
"How do you spell "interoperability?"
"V H F"

Everybody already has it and within understood limitations, it works.

In the past decade there has been some interest in Low Band VHF. Low band was out of favor for years because often ducting would make local communication impossible. (But boy, could you talk to the Des Moines Division of the Iowa Highway Patrol!) Since Low Band isn't used as much nationwide, it has attracted more local interest. And another up-side is you can include a channel that every state trooper in the state has in his car. That said, I really haven't heard much on low band lately either.

 

[Stephen]

Agree with you on the VHF comment, it’s frustrating that the communications shop for the state decided to use 700mhz to fill in where OKWIN coverage isn’t set up yet instead of regular VHF to get off low band. The idea of using 700mhz in rural areas is a money make for Motorola more sites over what VHF would require.

 

[PJH]

it’s not a vendor thing - but a matter of spectrum. The state (OHP) is already invested in the infrastructure and the “800” radios by all vendors are 700/800 - and 700 is ‘open’ spectrum.

why attempt to license in a heavy RF environment when you have a free and clear spectrum?

also infrasture spares/equipment is all the same rather than maintaining several? Logistics is much more streamlined.

 

[W5KVV]

We're actually in the process of re upping our county SO 45 MHz licenses that have lapsed. EM will be picking them up, along with a MOU for the LCALL and LTAC allotments.

To answer the OP's original question, the low band interop frequencies see little use right now but as fast2okc mentioned, it is gaining a little traction at least in the SE part of the state.

Not sure how long you guys have been around but I wish you could have seen the DPS low band system back in the day, before it went to pot. OHP Troop D communications covered all of troop D with three low band relays: Daisy, Poteau and Wewoka. The "local" was just south of McAlester.

Wire line from headquarters to the local, with low band TXRX at the local. VHF high band links from the local to the relays where it went back to lowband TXRX. The old GE console had four buttons: "Local" "Daisy" "Poteau" "Wewoka". You simply picked the one with the best signal. Basically a poor mans voter, but it worked.

 

[Stephen]

it’s not a vendor thing - but a matter of spectrum. The state (OHP) is already invested in the infrastructure and the “800” radios by all vendors are 700/800 - and 700 is ‘open’ spectrum.

why attempt to license in a heavy RF environment when you have a free and clear spectrum?

also infrasture spares/equipment is all the same rather than maintaining several? Logistics is much more streamlined.

OHP already has VHF radios in their vehicle, and they could have purchased dual band APXs for handhelds and been fine.